This will motivate a majority of farmers for taking up allied farming on one hand and promote diversification of agriculture on the other, Badal added.

In a letter to the Union Finance Minister, Badal apprised Jaitley of the agriculture sector gradually becoming un-remunerative and thus agriculture diversification was a need of the hour, an official release said.

He cited animal husbandry could emerge as a strong viable alternative.

However, this could only happen if this sector was incentivised on the same lines as agriculture, he added.

Since agriculture was a major source of livelihood to the majority of Indian population and henceforth the Centre had been providing various incentives and subsidy to this sector, added Badal.